1 hour ago
3
The past four weeks have been, frankly, a wild time for our product testers. Each month I put together a Reviews Recap of the gadgets that have impressed us most; the products that have endured our tough tests and come out with a score of 4.5 or 5 out of 5. And this month there's a bumper crop, with dozens of great gadgets and gizmos to explore, across a variety of different product categories.
It won't surprise you to see Apple amongst the standouts of the past month: the Duo won us over with its "exquisite engineering" and "vibrant, virtually crease-free screen", but it was the Apple Watch Series 12 that earned perfect marks, with our tester dubbing it "the best mainline [Apple Watch] in years".
We also reviewed several excellent laptops, some sublime speakers, and many a magnificent TV. If you're not sure we're branching out enough, we also gave the stamp of approval to an innovative, podless pod coffee machine and a microwave that moonlights as an air fryer.
Scroll down to browse all the most impressive tech we've tested over the past four weeks. Tap the View details button for a run-down of what we thought, plus a link to read the full review for each. Note: only the products that are available in your region will display as cards.
5-star products
Apple
Watch Series 12
Pros
- Readiness Score is terrific and not locked behind a paywall
- Refreshed Health Sensing System
- S11 Chip ensures smooth, responsive performance
- Still delivers all-day battery life
Cons
- No major design changes
Sony
Bravia Theatre Trio
Pros
- Exceptional sound quality for both films and music
- Excellent adaptation to any room layout
- It’s a perfect partner for really big TVs
- Good expansion options
Cons
- It’s… reassuringly expensive
- Needs optional rear speakers for a proper surround sound effect
- Rather limited listening ‘sweet spot’
- Limited physical connectivity
Logitech
Yeti 2
Pros
- Exceptional audio quality
- Solid build quality
- Automatically adjusts the polar pattern as needed
- Auto-gain is a useful extra
Cons
- All-in-one dial can be a bit finicky
- More expensive than the original Yeti
Sony
ULT TOWER 5 speaker
Pros
- Bass might that almost defies belief
- Excellent connectivity options
- Sleek design with customizable lights
- Great value for money
Cons
- Middling IPX4 waterproofing
- Fairly hefty
4.5-star products
Apple
iPhone Duo
Pros
- Excellent design
- Best folding hinge ever?
- Flat, matte folding screen that hides the crease
- Excellent performance
- Split-screen multitasking
Cons
- Cover screen loses too much space to the dock placement
- No telephoto camera
- Needs more third-party app support
- Missing Face ID
Hisense
XR10 4K projector
Pros
- Wonderfully bright and colorful
- Incredibly flexible optics
- Gorgeous looks and classy carrying case
- Punchy speaker
- Adaptable for bright and dark rooms
Cons
- Missed out on VRR and 4K/120Hz modes
- VidaaOS could be better
- Pricey
Oppo
Pad 5 Pro tablet
Pros
- 13-inch screen is great for movies and games
- Huge battery = multiple days of use
- Great tools for productivity
Cons
- RAM down to 8GB vs predecessor
- Available in just one color
- Heavier than key 13-inch rivals
Apple
Watch Ultra 4
Pros
- Another battery life increase
- Readiness Score makes your activity data actionable without a monthly price
- S11 chip ensures a responsive experience
- Still a very rugged build
Cons
- No major design changes
- Not a night-and-day performance boost over Ultra 3
Acer
Swift Air 14 laptop
Pros
- Very long battery life
- Portable and attractive
- Budget-level pricing
Cons
- Not a lot of power
- The two USB-C ports are on the same side
- Audio quality is mediocre
Bissell
CrossWave Reach Plus wet and dry vacuum
Pros
- Great job vacuuming and mopping
- Gets to edges (along the right side)
- Lies almost flat to get under furniture
Cons
- Can’t pick up larger pieces of debris
- Solid and wet debris in same tank
Audeze
Maxwell 2 ANC gaming headset
Pros
- World-class game audio
- Excellent feature set
- Strong noise cancellation
- Great design and build quality
- Has all the same excellence as the non-ANC model
Cons
- ANC might not be enough for existing Maxwell 2 owners to upgrade
- Battery life takes a big hit
- Head tracking feature still feels a little niche
- A price jump up from the non-ANC version
Lavazza
MilkEasy Plus
Pros
- Incredibly easy to use and clean
- Hot and cold milk options
- Great results with dairy and plant-based milk
Cons
- A little difficult to make out max fill markings
- Foamed milk takes a good while to froth
- Lacks a handle for maximum ease when pouring
Fourth Frontier
Frontier X2 heart rate monitor
Pros
- Highly accurate HR compared to other wearables
- ECG livestream functionality super useful
- Screen and tactile button enormously helpful
- Rechargeable
Cons
- No ANT+
- Very premium price tag
- Some features locked behind subscription paywall
JBL
Bar 800MK2 soundbar
Pros
- Excellent performance across the frequency range
- Impressive virtual Dolby Atmos
- Strong feature-set and connectivity options
Cons
- Lacks up-firing speakers for true Atmos
- Middling looks with very bulky sub
- HDMI input supports 4K, but only at 60Hz
Razer
Reclusa X Mini 65%
Pros
- Surprisingly sturdy plastic chassis
- Excellent tactile switches built-in
- Lots of customisation potential
Cons
- Software can be a little basic
- ABS keycaps have the potential to get quite shiny
- No flip-out feet feels like a missed feature
Oppo
Find X10 Pro Max smartphone
Pros
- Zero-compromise triple 200MP camera system
- Incredible video features
- Great performance and battery life
- Slick, feature-packed software
Cons
- It's more expensive than the X9 Pro
- ... and has less RAM
Sony
ULT Tower 7 speakers
Pros
- Gigantic bass output with clear mids and highs
- Versatile connectivity options
- Attractive design with fantastic lighting
- Strong battery life
Cons
- 360-degree sound could be more convincing
- Heavy and a little cumbersome to move
- IPX4 waterproofing is just OK
Lavazza
Tabli Automatic Tab Coffee Machine
Pros
- No coffee capsules to recycle
- Extremely simple to use
- Coffee tastes better than rivals like Nespresso
- Mobile app works well, allowing customization and remote brewing
Cons
- Google Home connectivity didn't work during my tests
Sony
Bravia 9 II RGB LED 4K TV (2026)
Pros
- Excellent picture quality
- Effective anti-glare screen
- Great for gaming
Cons
- Expensive
- Some blooming when viewed off-center
- Only two HDMI 2.1 ports
Sony
ECM-W5 wireless mic
Pros
- In-camera 32-bit float recording
- Huge transmission range and rock-solid signal
- 3.5mm lav mic input with screw lock
Cons
- Much pricier than its key rivals
- Noise reduction is fairly mild
- No audio cable included
Marshall
Bromley 150 portable speaker
Pros
- Stunning design and build quality
- Exceptional bass output
- Tasteful, customizable lighting
Cons
- Thin companion app
- Mids could be a little more articulate
- No LDAC as seen on other Marshall speakers
Acer
Swift Spin 14 AI
Pros
- Surprising performance
- Great battery life
- Attractive build with 360-degree hinge
Cons
- Not exactly cheap
- Sound quality is mediocre
Logitech
G Pro X3 SuperStrike gaming mouse
Pros
- Upgraded sensor delivers superior sensitivity
- Improved weight distribution
- HITS sensors are still second to none
- Excellent battery life
Cons
- Few upgrades to justify the X3 name
- Comes with a (modest) price hike
Braun
OptiBrew Pro
Pros
- Great range of coffee styles and sizes
- Makes seven sizes ranging from a single serving to a carafe
- Makes cold brew and coffee over ice
- Makes concentrated coffee shots
- Built-in milk frother
- Has timed auto-brew function
- Has a keep-warm feature
- Can pause brewing
- Easy to use and clean up
- Makes great coffee
Cons
- Must use pre-ground coffee
- Milk frother only froths, does not heat milk
- Somewhat pricey
Technics
EAH-A1000 wireless over-ear headphones
Pros
- Layered, expansive audio quality
- Still the only company regularly offering triple-device connectivity
- Competent spatial audio and ANC
- Supreme comfort
Cons
- Occasionally a little polite-sounding
- Physical buttons sometimes fail to register presses (including playback and power)
Astell & Kern
PD5 DAP
Pros
- Staggeringly clean, open and revealing sound
- Thoroughly specified
- Plenty of scope for user influence
Cons
- Some operational quirks
- Looks and feels less premium than the price demands
Ninja
Crispi Microwave
Pros
- Brilliantly versatile as air fryer and microwave
- Premium, modern design and controls
- Large capacity is great for families
Cons
- Large footprint not good for small kitchens
- No steam function
- Internal light a little too dim
Cambridge
A100 SE earbuds
Pros
- Spacious, informative and disciplined sound
- Dynamic and punchy presentation
- Impressive specification
Cons
- Not the most accomplished when it comes to rhythmic expression
- Don’t look or feel in any way special
- Touch controls could be more reliable
Ruark Audio
Talisman R
Pros
- Direct, unified, organized and informative sound
- Easy-going where partnering equipment and room positioning are concerned
- Compact and attractive
- Exemplary standard of build and finish
Cons
- Lack outright scale compared with similarly priced, but physically larger, rivals
- Not as impressive as some alternatives where on-paper specification is concerned
OM System
PEN camera
Pros
- Excellent value
- In-body image stabilization and neat computational photography modes
- Classy design
- Splash-proof, as is the new kit lens
Cons
- Basic video features
- Some controls are fiddly
- Design less suitable for long lenses
- Lower rated weather resistance than the OM-5 II
Noble
FoKus Artemis wireless headphones
Pros
- Conjure up an impeccable sense of space
- Beautifully balanced, nuanced sound
- Premium design and feel
- Unique feature-set with personalised EQ
Cons
- Average ANC and looser fit allow quite a bit of sound in
- The price is undoubtedly steep
- Spatial audio modes aren’t class-leading
TCL
QM7L TV
Pros
- Very good picture quality
- Great for gamers thanks to high refresh rate and AMD Freesync Pro
- Lots of value for those looking for premium-adjacent viewing
Cons
- Google Gemini is still a disappointment
- Limited bass
- Picture lacks a little depth
RunStar
8E SmartScan Pro smart scale
Pros
- Quick results
- Measurements across five body zones
- Well designed and engineered
- Easy-to-use app
Cons
- TFT-LCD display feels cheap
- Pretty basic app
- No heart health tracking
Focal
Mu-so Hekla home theater system
Pros
- Big, detailed, full-range sound with an appreciable ‘spatial’ effect
- Great control app
- Impressive build and finish
Cons
- Overplays its low-frequency hand on occasion
- Can't switch off spatial audio algorithms entirely
- Better Bluetooth compatibility would be nice
LG
Gram Pro 16 2-in-1 (16T90SP)
Pros
- Under three pounds thanks to the use of a new type of material
- Impressive performance considering the package
- Long battery life
- Has some interesting LG specific apps
Cons
- So expensive
- Comes with McAfee
- USB-C ports all on the same side
Razer
Blade 16 (2026) gaming laptop
Pros
- RTX 5090 delivers exceptional performance
- Stunningly clean aesthetic design
- Impressive battery life given the spec
- Crisp, punchy, OLED display
Cons
- No Ethernet port on a gaming laptop
- Very high price
Corsair
Harpoon V2 Wireless
Pros
- Ergonomic design
- Fast, accurate sensor
- Long battery life
- Versatile connectivity
Cons
- Too small to be comfortable for larger-handed users
- Removable rear foot has a tendency to trap debris
HP
OmniBook X 14 AI PC
Pros
- Thin and light
- Great performance
- Easy keyboard to type on
Cons
- Inconvenient ports
- Display can be a little reflective
- Not exactly cheap
